Joh 1:40-45 | PNT | STEP | One of the two . . . was Andrew . Afterwards an apostle. He has the honor of being one of the first two disciples of Jesus.

‏ John 1:40-45

One of the two . . . was Andrew. Afterwards an apostle. He has the honor of being one of the first two disciples of Jesus. Findeth his own brother Simon. Simon Peter. In true missionary spirit Andrew at once and first sought his own brother.

We have found the Messias. The Christ promised by the prophets. "Messiah" is the Hebrew word meaning the same as "Christ", that is, "anointed one". Thou shalt be called Cephas. A Hebrew word meaning "stone". Peter is the Greek form. Findeth Philip, and saith to him, Follow me. This is the first recorded instance of the Savior calling a disciple to follow him. Philip, it must be borne in mind, is not Philip, "one of the seven" (Ac 21:8), but "one of the Twelve", a citizen of Bethsaida of Galilee (Joh 12:21), and a fellow-townsman of Andrew and Peter. Philip findeth Nathanael. As we learn from Joh 21:2, Nathanael was a Galilean, his home being at "Cana in Galilee". His name only occurs in these two places. He is supposed to have been one of the Twelve, the same one mentioned in the other Gospels as Bartholomew (Mt 10:3 Mr 3:18 Lu 6:14), which means "son of Tolmai". The use of the name in Joh 21:2 favors this hypothesis.

We have found him, of whom Moses . . . did write. There was only one to whom this could refer, "The prophet like unto Moses" (De 34:10 Ac 3:22 7:37), the Messiah; and when Philip names Jesus of Nazareth, Nathanael is at once skeptical whether the Messiah could come out of Nazareth, an insignificant and despised place.